By Geoff Fein
The Navy is realigning the functions of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (DASN RDT&E) and creating the Department of the Navy Test and Evaluation (DoN T&E) Executive, according to a memo written last week.
The Jan. 7 memo from John Thackrah, acting DASN research, development and acquisition (RDA), designated Rear Adm. Bill Landay, currently chief of Naval Research (ONR), as the new DoN T&E executive. Landay will remain at the helm of ONR.
The new executive position will report directly to the vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) for matters pertaining to test and evaluation. For matters pertaining to assistant secretary of the Navy, RDA, the executive will report to the DASN RDA.
“The initiative to realign the position of DASN RDT&E was first considered in 2006,” Thackrah, told Defense Daily Friday. “That position was originally established to improve technology transition and test and evaluation processes. Under the leadership of Dr. Michael McGrath, we met and exceeded those expectations.”
The DASN RDT&E position was created five years ago. Over that time, new programs such as Rapid Technology Transition, Technology Improvement Program for Savings, and Rapid Development and Deployment have been established and have a successful track record, the memo said.
Additionally, ONR established the Director of Technology Transition, responsible for execution of technology transition programs, the memo added.
A T&E Enterprise Board of Directors (BoD) has also been established and is delivering process improvements and savings, according to the memo.
“We are now building off of those positive results and streamlining those missions with the creation of the Department of the Navy Test and Evaluation Executive,” Thackrah said. “Under the leadership of Rear Adm. Bill Landay, we will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Test and Evaluation enablers across the Naval Acquisition Enterprise.
“We are moving in the right direction, and this realignment will ‘sharpen the saw’ as we continue to deliver process improvements and savings in Test and Evaluation,” Thackrah added.
The DoN T&E executive will work with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (PDASN) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of T&E enablers across the Naval Acquisition Enterprise, the memo said.
The DoN T&E Executive will have a senior civilian deputy whose full time focus is T&E. The DoN T&E Executive will also co-chair the T&E Enterprise BoD with Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, according to the memo.
The memo also noted other changes including: ASN RDA representation on the Technology Oversight Group would be assigned to the PDASN, who will be a voting member of the group with responsibility for future naval capabilities, Navy-led Joint Capability Technology Demonstration, and the Rapid Development and Deployment program.